Mental fatigue defined: Also known as mental exhaustion or burnout; it arises from prolonged stress – whether it comes from work, relationships, life events, or all of these. After you’ve been physically working for a while then your body may begin to feel tired and drained. Suppose you continually ignore the physical symptoms from overwork …
Overthink (verb) To think too much about something: to put too much time into thinking or analysing something in a way that is more harmful than helpful (Merriam-Webster online dictionary). When does it become a problem? We all sometimes spend time overthinking, lying awake at night, ruminating about the past, trying to predict …
Mental health issues are very common in our modern-day society. Yet, many people are struggling to open up about their challenges and seek professional mental health support. One reason for this is the experience of toxic feelings such as guilt, shame, criticism, and self-blame for their symptoms. Other reasons are cultural and social beliefs and …
Why is it so hard to talk about mental health issues? – Mental Health Stigma Read More »
Our brains work in amazing and sometimes seemingly mysterious ways. We’ve all heard terms such as they’re just “being defensive”, “in denial”, or “trying to rationalise their behaviour”. And many of us have caught ourselves behaving or responding in ways that may seem strange or uncharacteristic on reflection. But why do we turn to these …
What is mindfulness? Everyone has heard that mindfulness benefits our physical and mental health and well-being. But what effect does it have on our brain in terms of neuroscience? In short, Mindfulness means being present without judgement. To be moment-to-moment in gentle awareness of our thoughts, feelings and environment. It involves being aware of the …
*** CAPTURED INSIDE: feeling ‘on guard’ Have you ever asked what I wanted? Have I even told you what I expected? Did you lose my hand on the way to my heart? How should you see me if I am hiding? Would you listen to what I haven’t said? Within myself I feel safe but …
What is SOMATISATION? Soma is a Greek word and means “the living body”. Integrating techniques on somatic awareness in Arts Therapy adds a significant dimension to verbal exploration. In the psychodynamic framework of Creative Arts Therapy, we explore somatisation to help enhance self-awareness, self-growth and develop insight. We gain greater insight into bodily experience as …
The origins of Art as embodied way of healthy living The healing qualities of artmaking go back to the early history of mankind. In the past, it was an integral part of life. Art was used to process and document emotional experiences linked to life events, rituals, values and beliefs. However, that changed in …
The interplay of addictive behaviour, self-regulation, attachment, and childhood trauma Introduction to addictive behaviour Question: Consider the two examples below. Which example do you think demonstrates features of addiction? Roger has grown up around alcohol. Further, he has fond childhood memories of drunken family members and their antics during social gatherings. Roger began drinking alcohol …
As we look around today, we see diverse cultures, ethnicity, skin colour and many other distinct features and uniqueness. The reason for this phenomenon is work opportunities transcending geographical boundaries. Another reason is to find refuge elsewhere due to oppression in the country of origin. For others, it’s for educational purposes. This list can expand …
